Intel Corp. today is scurrying to clean up a mess made by Germany's ZDNet on Wednesday when it reported that an Intel exec had confirmed the ongoing development of a iPhone-like tablet at Apple, a report which the chipmaker now claims is patently false.

Specifically, ZDNet reported that Intel Germany chief Hannes Schwaderer at a small gathering in Munich "confirmed" the existence of a larger iPhone at Apple that would employ one of Intel's ultra-mobile Atom processors.

The report gained widespread traction given earlier predictions by AppleInsider and other media outlets that such a device does in fact exist, and has long been under development at Apple's Cupertino-based headquarters. The problem, however, was that Schwaderer appears to have never made the comments suggested by the ZDNet report.

"No Intel exec has said anything about any future Apple product, Atom processor or otherwise," an Intel spokesperson told AppleInsider. "I think thats important to note as everyone speculates on future products from Apple."

Since ZDNet's original report hit the net, a couple of other publications on hand for Schwaderer's presentation have offered their interpretation of the events, which also appear to suggest that ZDNet's report was misleading.

An editor for Golem.de claims that he does not recall any mention of an iPhone tablet during the executives speech, while PCGamesHardware.de attests that a reference to an iPhone device was made, but only as an example of a product that could benefit from Atom.

Unfortunately, only 40 or so reporters were on hand for Schwaderer's presentation, AppleInsider has been told, and thus further first-hand accounts are likely to be limited.

Nevertheless, and regardless of misinterpretations this week, AppleInsider maintains that Apple is working on a iPhone-like mini tablet reminiscent of the Newton MessagePad that should surface in due time.

... only 40 or so reporters were on hand for Schwaderer's presentation

Oh, dear God. Only 40 reporters, most of whom were presumably either taking notes or recording the presentation???? How EVER shall we learn what was really said? Clearly, none of the FORTY reporters could have possibly captured whether the comment was made or not.

Originally Posted by ... only 40 or so reporters were on hand for Schwaderer's presentation/QUOTE

Oh, dear God. Only 40 reporters, most of whom were presumably either taking notes or recording the presentation???? How EVER shall we learn what was really said? Clearly, none of the FORTY reporters could have possibly captured whether the comment was made or not.

I'm working on it. It's a different time zone. A different language...We'll see if anything comes of it. It was my understanding that it was a 'party' too... So... ya know... not everyone may have been spot on...

I don't seriously anticipate a Newton-ish product from Apple at this point, it would merely dilute iPhone and Touch sales. There will be incremental improvements to iPhone, same kind of improvements that have made iPod a category leader.

I don't seriously anticipate a Newton-ish product from Apple at this point, it would merely dilute iPhone and Touch sales. There will be incremental improvements to iPhone, same kind of improvements that have made iPod a category leader.

Apple waited to introduce the iPhone until the iPod was firmly entrenched as the standard.
Apple will wait until the iPhone is clearly entrenched as the standard before it introduces any similar product that could fragment the market. However once the iPhone is in a dominant position, it is in Apple's best interest to push the platform in new directions and expand the markets it can address.

I don't expect to see a larger tablet for at least 1-2 years. By then developers will have built a large repository of software and services for the existing iPhone platform.

Apple waited to introduce the iPhone until the iPod was firmly entrenched as the standard.
Apple will wait until the iPhone is clearly entrenched as the standard before it introduces any similar product that could fragment the market. However once the iPhone is in a dominant position, it is in Apple's best interest to push the platform in new directions and expand the markets it can address.

I don't expect to see a larger tablet for at least 1-2 years. By then developers will have built a large repository of software and services for the existing iPhone platform.

Nevertheless, and regardless of misinterpretations this week, AppleInsider maintains that Apple is working on a iPhone-like mini tablet reminiscent of the Newton MessagePad that should surface in due time.

Yeah, that's spirit! if you keep insisting it exists eventually they will it release it. It worked with the Mac mini, it worked with the iPhone

I don't expect to see a larger tablet for at least 1-2 years. By then developers will have built a large repository of software and services for the existing iPhone platform.

I don't know about about a whole 2 years, but I do agree with your thinking. I also think the reason we won't see the tablet until sometime in 2009 is for the simple reason that Apple is too busy to get it finished any time soon.

Sure its a phone, but it is also the most awesome PDA I ever used...minus the handwriting thing, but who gives a toot about that?

... not to mention 'copy & paste', a fax (i know i know... so 80s, but still useful), a spreadsheet/work processor/data base, an attachable keyboard (the horror!), and most importantly: the 'find elvis' feature...

Why is it so difficult for some to realize that the iPhone is (after 2.0) the anticipated replacement of Newton? It doesn't have to be slightly bigger to qualify. And forget about the idea that the keyboard needs to be bigger etc. Blah.

And why is it so difficult for people to understand that this software update to the iPhone and Touch are not going to make it do the Word processing and computer functions you expect it to? There will be workarounds but no saving of stuff to outside the device or program is very much more restricted than you would be used to. (the only other exception would be the web- you can save to there)

Why is it so difficult for some to realize that the iPhone is (after 2.0) the anticipated replacement of Newton? It doesn't have to be slightly bigger to qualify. And forget about the idea that the keyboard needs to be bigger etc. Blah.

Apple will continue to engineer the iPhone to have more control surface, yet it improve it's battery and computing "smarts".

Why is it so difficult for some to realize that the iPhone is (after 2.0) the anticipated replacement of Newton? It doesn't have to be slightly bigger to qualify. And forget about the idea that the keyboard needs to be bigger etc. Blah.

Why is it so difficult for some to realize that the iPhone is (after 2.0) the anticipated replacement of Newton? It doesn't have to be slightly bigger to qualify. And forget about the idea that the keyboard needs to be bigger etc. Blah.

Oh but you are so wrong here. IPhone very much needs a larger screen there si no doubt in my mind. Not hugely larger mind you, we still want to pocket the thing. The trick is to keep the device manageable size wise while affording it storage in a suit pocket or a pants pocket.

By the way yes the larger size would immediately help the keyboard, you simply can't deny that. The thing is that is not the important element here, rather ii is the ability to better leverage the web and other apps. Simply put a larger screen is not needed for phone usage, but to fully leverage an iphone 2 a larger screen would help significantly.

Oh but you are so wrong here. IPhone very much needs a larger screen there si no doubt in my mind. Not hugely larger mind you, we still want to pocket the thing. The trick is to keep the device manageable size wise while affording it storage in a suit pocket or a pants pocket.

By the way yes the larger size would immediately help the keyboard, you simply can't deny that. The thing is that is not the important element here, rather ii is the ability to better leverage the web and other apps. Simply put a larger screen is not needed for phone usage, but to fully leverage an iphone 2 a larger screen would help significantly.

Dave

Perhaps increasing screen size with a clamshell phone that looks like a thinner version of the MacBook Air with two control surfaces is the next iteration of the iPhone. Keyboards could be split across the face, or if the screen were completely flexible, it could span both 'shells' as a one piece screen.

Why is it so difficult for some to realize that the iPhone is (after 2.0) the anticipated replacement of Newton? It doesn't have to be slightly bigger to qualify. And forget about the idea that the keyboard needs to be bigger etc. Blah.

I know. I think any device between the screen size of the iPhone and say the MacBook screen is pointless. I am 100% sure that Apple is working on a tablet Mac and that the iPhone and the Air are results of that work.

Here is what I think. Apple MBA is somewhat a testing ground for the upcoming tablet in terms of weight, screen size, thickness, no media drive, and processor power. Now that MBA prove to be a success, Apple is closer to releasing the tablet computer. The new tablet will probably be very similar to MBA than the iPhone. Light weight, Aluminum case, very thin, iPod HDD, no DVD/CD drive, and touch screen of course. However, I wonder what Apple will decide for handwriting recognition now that SJ has criticized the stylus for mobile devices.

I know. I think any device between the screen size of the iPhone and say the MacBook screen is pointless. I am 100% sure that Apple is working on a tablet Mac and that the iPhone and the Air are results of that work.

Here is what I think. Apple MBA is somewhat a testing ground for the upcoming tablet in terms of weight, screen size, thickness, no media drive, and processor power. Now that MBA prove to be a success, Apple is closer to releasing the tablet computer. The new tablet will probably be very similar to MBA than the iPhone. Light weight, Aluminum case, very thin, iPod HDD, no DVD/CD drive, and touch screen of course. However, I wonder what Apple will decide for handwriting recognition now that SJ has criticized the stylus for mobile devices.

Like I said above, I think the next fruit of the MBA trial will be an iPhone design revision.

I know. I think any device between the screen size of the iPhone and say the MacBook screen is pointless. I am 100% sure that Apple is working on a tablet Mac and that the iPhone and the Air are results of that work.

Here is what I think. Apple MBA is somewhat a testing ground for the upcoming tablet in terms of weight, screen size, thickness, no media drive, and processor power. Now that MBA prove to be a success, Apple is closer to releasing the tablet computer. The new tablet will probably be very similar to MBA than the iPhone. Light weight, Aluminum case, very thin, iPod HDD, no DVD/CD drive, and touch screen of course. However, I wonder what Apple will decide for handwriting recognition now that SJ has criticized the stylus for mobile devices.

Mac touch will have a SSD, and I suspect the screen size won't be quite 13.3"

Not holding my breath, but kinda waiting for the new iPhones to get an iPhone to see if by some miracle it has handwriting recognition, well that and G3, voice dialing....

If Apple released a new iPhone and a tablet, I'd buy 2 of each the same day!!

There have been some reports of handwriting recognition software being developed using the SDK, you have to use your finger to write though. Voice dialing can be developed using the SDK as well not a big deal.

Mac touch will have a SSD, and I suspect the screen size won't be quite 13.3"

13.3" is a reasonable size for writing (almost the Letter size). For handwriting recognition to work effectively and efficiently you will need bigger screen. To give you an idea, 5X7 is 8.6" and the 13.3" screen size is a familiar size for Apple.

Why is it so difficult for some to realize that the iPhone is (after 2.0) the anticipated replacement of Newton? It doesn't have to be slightly bigger to qualify. And forget about the idea that the keyboard needs to be bigger etc. Blah.

There is still a missing product. The iphone is too small for say doctors who walk around talking to patients and having to carry clipboards and a laptop is too awkward, current tablets are too clumsy and heavy.

Students who take notes in class where a laptop and iphone don't suffice.

Store managers that walk around checking stocks or whatever.

There are so many uses for a lightweight, powerful, stable, wifi, touch slate.

I could see it competing with the Macbook Air though depending on the implementation. I actually think the MBA was the perfect product to make a slate out of. Imagine if they had taken away the keyboard and put the display directly onto the machine. It would be even thinner than it is now and it would have been a really unique ultra-portable.

Perhaps MBA 2.0 will be the Newton once they refine the touch interaction with OS X. Multi-touch trackpads are just the training wheels.